"I just think it's time," Carell told E! "I want to fulfill my contract. When I first signed on I had a contract for seven seasons, and this coming year is my seventh. I just thought it was time for my character to go."

The deciding factor to leave? According to a separate report from EW, Carell just wants to spend time with his family.

Given the show's multitude of characters and plots, Carell seemed surprised there was such an uproar in the first place over his exit.

"I didn't see it as a huge thing," he told reporters.

Initially a long-shot adaptation of Ricky Gervais' beloved UK show about everymen stuck in the job from hell, the American version of "The Office" skyrocketed to the top of the sitcom heap. This was largely thanks to Carell's Michael Scott, a goofier, sadder, sweeter variation on Gervais' David Brent character

Carell won a Golden Globe and was nominated for three Emmys for his role in "The Office." He has also forged a big screen career off the back of the show.

The 47-year-old actor appeared in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" around the same time as "The Office" debuted, and went on to star in "Little Miss Sunshine," "Get Smart," and most recently, "Date Night" with Tina Fey.

The boss man has confidence the team will continue to thrive without him.

"They've incorporated so many new characters and so many new, great storylines that I have no doubt it'll continue as strong if not stronger than ever," Carell told E! on the red carpet.

The actor is currently making the rounds promoting "Despicable Me," in which Carell voices a supervillain who commands an army of (adorable) minions, inherits three (more adorable) stepkids, and plots all the while to steal the moon.